Thom Bogue vs. Christopher Cabaldon for California Senate: Candidates answer key questions
California’s Senate District 3 covers the stretch of land between the Bay Area and the Sacramento area, including Davis, Fairfield, Napa, Sonoma, Vacaville, Vallejo and West Sacramento.
The current senator, Sen. Bill Dodd, is term limited out of office.
Vying to replace him are Dixon City Councilmember Thom Bogue, a Republican, and former West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon, a Democrat.
Bogue won 27.8% of the vote in a crowded March primary contest, while Cabaldon won 26.6%.
Thom Bogue
Political Party: Republican
Age: 63
Birthplace: Sacramento
Current town of residence: Dixon
Current occupation: City council member
Education: Western Governors University, Business Management, no degree, Covid ended it.
Offices held: Dixon City Council member, 2022 to present; Dixon mayor, 2016 to 2020; Dixon City Council member, 2010 to 2014; Association of Bay Area Governments Executive Board, 2016 to 2020; Yolanda Air Resource Board, 2016 to 2020; Solano Transportation Authority Board Member, 2016 to 2020; Solano County Water Agency Board Member, 2016 to 2020
Campaign website address: ThomBogue4Senate.com
What would be your budget priorities for the upcoming budget year?
To withdraw funding in support of continued illegal immigration. Redirect that funding towards our citizens and veterans.
What do you think the Legislature should do to address the state’s ongoing homelessness crisis?
Develop income based housing, actually spend the money, like the over $125 billion over the last 5 years, towards housing and continued addressing the social economical challenges the homeless face every day.
How should the Legislature respond to concerns about retail theft and fentanyl and drug overdoses?
Lock them up.
Christopher Cabaldon
Political Party: Democratic
Age: 59
Birthplace: California
Current town of residence: West Sacramento
Current occupation: Mayor-in-residence Institute for the Future
Education: Master’s degree in Public Policy & Administration, California State University, Sacramento; Bachelor’s degree of Science in Environmental Economics, University of California, Berkeley
Offices held: California Commissioner Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education, 2011 to present; Mayor of West Sacramento, 1998 to 2020; Vice Chancellor, California Community Colleges, 1997 to 2003
Campaign website address: www.CabaldonforSenate.com
What would be your budget priorities for the upcoming budget year?
I will prioritize ensuring our most vulnerable communities have access to the resources they need and strengthening economic prosperity and thus the state’s fiscal condition. We must make targeted investments to increase the state’s supply of housing, protect our climate, and creating clear pathways to the middle class for people throughout our region.
What do you think the Legislature should do to address the state’s ongoing homelessness crisis?
When it comes to California’s homelessness and housing crisis, the state has passed numerous laws to address the shortage of affordable housing, but things do not seem to be getting significantly better. As mayor, we cut unsheltered homelessness in my city by 58% and bucked the trend by preventing any increase for the last decade. That’s why I know we can do better, with smart, relentless solutions for more housing, better support services, and health and safety enforcement.
How should the Legislature respond to concerns about retail theft and fentanyl and drug overdoses?
Too many families don’t feel safe letting their children play outside and too many businesses are contending with criminals seemingly acting with impunity. It’s imperative that we address the spate of smash-and-grab robberies and increase penalties for drug dealers poisoning our communities with fentanyl. The package of bills the Legislature passed this year is an important first step, and we must do more. We must focus on policies that deter criminals and protect families and businesses, without returning to failed policies that criminalized poverty and led to overcrowding of state prisons.